Contents

Rationale

There is no accepted tagging scheme for via ferratas in OSM. Some easier ferratas could be mapped as highway=path with additional keys describing difficulty but this is inappropriate for the more difficult ferratas which have more similarities to climbing routes, require ferrata kits and skills and are completely unsuitable for casual hikers, bicycles, horses and anything else which is by default allowed on highway=path. Also, highway=path is already fraught with enough confusion (see eg Path controversy) and used for anything from roadside bike paths to demanding alpine paths.

Hence highway=via_ferrata is proposed. While there is some overlap of easy ferratas and difficult alpine paths this should not pose any fundamental problem as explained bellow.

Description

A via ferrata is a route equipped with fixed cables, stemples, ladders, and bridges in order to increase ease and security for climbers. These via ferrata require equipment : climbing harness, shock absorber and two short lengths of rope, but do not require a long rope as for climbing.

Easy ferratas which are useable by hikers may also be mapped with highway=path as described in the next section. sac_scale=* and via_ferrata_scale=* can be used for either of highway=via_ferrata/path where appropriate.

Criteria for taging as either via_ferrata or path

There is some overlap between easy ferratas and difficult hiking paths. If you have a hard time deciding which one is more appropriate than the mistake if you choose either of those is probably not a big one.

a path is way where a hiker can walk without a ferrata kit and without extensive use of arm muscles and climbing techniques. The difficulty of routes mapped as path should not exceed that of sac_scale=difficult_alpine_hiking (climbing up to second grade)

if a ferrata kit makes the route safer in bad weather map it as highway=via_ferrata

use highway=path where a ferrata kit is not required/recommended or none or very few people use ferrata kits

do not use highway=path instead of highway=via_ferrata just for the (mapnik) renderer! At least OpenAndroMaps and MRI render via ferrata and the way type should not be decided on the ground what is or isn't rendered.

If tagging easy ferratas as highway=path it is important to tag the access and usability for pedestrians, bicycles, horses etc as well because paths are by default expected to be open to all non-motorised vehicles.

Rating via ferrata's difficulty

There is no "world wide scale" for via_ferrata diffculty, The "German" Huesler scale (as taken from Wikipedia 1 ) seems to be the only one with quite objective qualifications. Therefore it is used for OSM with the addition of very little difficulty / French F.

Way/Surroundings steep to very steep rock faces, mostly only small steps, longer or many exposed sections

Securance Steel cables, stemples, Trittstifte, often longer ladders, even overhanging ladders and stemples to be expected, sometimes in vertical sections only steel cables existing, Usable bypassing securances usually possible, but then climbing up to UIAA IV/ French 4 is the norm

Exigencies Good shape, longer ascents in difficult sections are demanding as ferratas of this difficulty are already among the bigger ferratas (sic! better translation?)

Equipment Via ferrata kit heavily recommended. Unexperienced or children should eventually even be roped in

French: D

German: C-K3 - difficult

via_ferrata_scale

4

Subjective Difficulty very difficult, very demanding and very straining

Securance Steel cables, stemples, Trittstifte (often spaced with large distance), in exposed section often no more than a steel cable

Exigencies Same as for 3, but general good body shape needed. Good power in hands and arms as longer vertical to overhanging sections are possible. Also small climbing sections up to difficulty UIAA II / French 2 may need to be cleared.

Equipment Via ferrata kit obligatory, even very experienced via ferrata users will be met in a rope team. Not recommended for children or inexperienced

French: TD

German: D-K4 - very difficult

via_ferrata_scale

5

Subjective Difficulty Extremely difficulty because very straining and exceedingly arduous.

Way/Surroundings Vertical to Overhanging; consistently exposed, very small steps or slab climbing

Securance As for 4 but much more climbing parts

Exigencies Lots of power in hands (fingers), arms and legs. Increased levels of fitness, flexibility needed. Long section may need to be cleared with main weight carried by the arms

Equipment Via ferrata kit obligatory. Rope teams especially for those sections without steel ropes or other securances considerable; not recommendable for beginners or children

French: ED

German: E-K5 - extreme difficulty

via_ferrata_scale

6

Subjective Difficulty More than extremely difficulty because very straining and exceedingly arduos and very good climbings skills are needed.

Way/Surroundings Largely Overhanging; exposed, very small steps or slab climbing

Securance As for 5 combined with climbing

Exigencies Like 5, but good climbing technique obligatory

Equipment Via ferrata kit obligatory. Top rope recommended. Only for people that feel safe and have experience using scale 5 ferratas. Note currently the only known ferrata of this difficulty in the European Alps is found on the Buergeralm Klettersteig (Austria) with "Arena Variante" 1

French: ABO

German: F-K6 more than extreme difficulty

Note: You can add a + or a - after the value to indicate that the via ferrata is on bottom or top of the grade.

sac_scale=* may be added where advanced hikers might still securely use the via ferrata.

Note: I took out the two French beginner sections as the German scale does not make a differentiation. I propose to enter it as 0 - very easy with a classification like "Basically demanding_mountain_hiking but in exposed sections. For frightened or inexperienced people steel cables or short ladders or a few stemples might be part of the way. Is in general not considered as a via ferrata but a normal way featuring via ferrata objects. Via Ferrata kit in general not used and only insecure people use the eventual steel cables. --Extremecarver 18:29, 18 November 2010 (UTC)

Details along the way

Those tags have to be added to the main one if used (i.e not alone) some are already approved so they are part of this proposal as an extension use